In his speech to the BBPA Annual dinner last night, BBPA Chairman Jonathan Neame called for action on the brewing and pub industry’s “crushing” tax burden, as well as highlighting achievements in the past year: “When we pay 40 to 50 per cent of all revenues in excise duty and VAT, and Starbucks paying next to nothing - something is very wrong with our system,” he said. “This tax burden is despised

Hastings pub, The Fountain Hotel, has a new-look and a new licensee, music man Guy Gillam, who has exciting plans to bring a host of music events to the town.
Guy has joined forces with brewers Shepherd Neame to invest £40,000 refurbishing the pub, in preparation for its new role as a major music venue in Hastings.

What does Kentish Ale have in common with Exmoor Blue Cheese, Whitstable Oysters or Melton Mowbray Pork Pies?
Well apart from the fact that they all go together well to make a not quite traditional ploughman’s lunch there is a more significant relationship – all of these products have PGI status
So what is PGI?